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Welcome to the world of karate history, philosophy, other martial art information
Dear Karate Enthusiast;
The purpose of this newsletter is to pass on historical information, philosophical views and activities of interest to karate martial artists around the world. Please send your article, event or activity with a photo of the instructor and/or event organizer by the 20th of the preceding month to get your information in this newsletter. Please send your text in a Word document. Please send posters and pictures in small jpeg files, thank you.
Instructors, please forward to other karate enthusiasts,
thank you.
Sincerely,
Ray Hughes, Editor
and Volunteer Staff
Contact Us
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Disclaimer: Titles 
One of the most difficult areas this newsletter has to deal with is the use of instructor titles. We are very sensitive to this issue and do not want to offend or insult anyone. To simplify this daunting problem we will use the following guidelines with the use of instructor titles:
a. The correct title of the instructor(s) must be in the article or seminar information submitted by the author or event organizer.
b. All captions that we place under photos will be:
1. Japanese instructors: Last name followed by the title Sensei.
2. Non-Japanese instructors: The title Sensei followed by the last name of the instructor.
c. Any title and name that is placed in this newsletter by newsletter staff will use the title of Sensei.
We consider the title "Sensei" a very prestigious title
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 | | Robert Hunt |
An Ancient Man By Robert Hunt
Teruo Chinen just recently passed.
Our martial world is a little poorer. Chinen Sensei was a controversial person, but he was my friend for 30 years and a consummate martial artist. "Old school" hardly covers it. He was a throwback. Few people practice karate as hard as he did and few are as demanding on their students. Chinen was an ancient man trying to find a place in a modern world. That's probably part of his problem. He didn't fit well into our age of counterfeit smiles and paper masters. I wrote the following article eight years ago when he visited Tucson, Arizona. Please remember him fondly. I can be as critical as the next person, but "when God lays his hand on a person's shoulder, I take mine off." This is how I will remember Teruo Chinen. As the Arizona night descended around us in a blanket of warm desert hues, the pale light
from a kerosene yard lantern danced across the soft eyes of Teruo Chinen, reflecting the Chinese blood line of his Okinawan lineage, of which he proudly spoke. He chatted about his life in Okinawa, Japan and the United States, karate, Goju Ryu, Miyagi, China, Kung Fu, ancient Chinese Generals and an evening full of other trivia related to his lifetime of training in and teaching his Okinawan martial art to any aspiring soul who showed up.
A cluster of mostly adult students sat quietly listening, absorbing the thoughts and feelings of this man who, because of his nationality and heritage, embodied, for them, the history and spirit of the art they pursued. As the evening passed, the students randomly rose to leave and were handed a certificate to commemorate the weekend. As the twenty or so people bowed goodbye and accepted the parchment, Chinen mentioned each one's name and acknowledged something unique to their weekend's training. They smiled and bowed again, appreciating the fact that this teacher, whom most had only met for the first time two days before, made the effort to learn their names and take interest in a brief moment of their particular time on earth.
Click HERE to read the rest of the article To contact Robert Hunt
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October
 | | Ray Hughes |
Should Students help Clean the Dojo?
I was drawn into a discussion the other day with parents at one of our local tournaments about whether or not students should help clean the dojo. These parents were not apart of my school.
These parents were not happy about their Sensei's policy of students cleaning the school after class. I of course voiced my support for their Sensei's policy.
After I gave an explanation of why students should help with cleaning the dojo, these parents understood and changed their minds about the policy. It occurred to me at that moment I needed to send out an article I wrote sometime back about this issue. People new to the Arts need to be informed on protocols of traditional martial arts and why they are implemented.
I wrote the following article about 10 years ago in response to a problem I had in my school. I placed this article in this newsletter several years ago, but feel it needs to go out from time to time.
Though the parents mentioned in this article quit because of this article, the rest of the school rallied around the situation, supported the protocol, and became better informed.
"Teens Cleaning the Change-room"
I received an e-mail the other day from a parent that wasn't too happy with me. He strongly disagreed with my policy of having the teens clean the change rooms after the teen/adult classes. I was actually surprised by the e-mail because this family has been in my program for many years. I thought they would have understood martial art philosophy in these matters. His argument was as follows:
a. His son is a paying student and considers it unacceptable to have paying students help with cleaning the change rooms.
b. It creates an inconvenience for both the student and the parent.
c. The school is taking on an enormous liability risk. If a student is injured or picks up any infection as a result of these tasks the ramifications are huge.
Though I disagree with this argument, I appreciate this conflict of philosophies. It allows me an opportunity to express my philosophy and the philosophy of the martial arts while giving options to those who disagree with me.
The martial arts are quite unique from other entities such as dance, gymnastics, or other businesses where a "service" is provided to its "clients". In the martial arts we consider ourselves a family, not a service providing a product. The fees are considered funds that help pay for the facility and martial arts knowledge, not to give participants entitlement. The school (dojo) is considered our house and our home. As a family it is our responsibility to work together to help keep it clean. Not to hire others to do it for us. In the martial arts it is considered our duty to clean our own house. This philosophy has been in the martial arts since its inception. There is learning and discipline that come from cleaning our school. The cleaning of the school also develops the philosophy of being of service to others in our......
To read the rest of this article click HERE
Ray Hughes
Scottsdale Martial Arts Center
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| | Robert Hunt |
The Deadly Dance
The Karate Tapestry - Part 16 By Robert Hunt
Everyone studying Chinese/Okinawan martial arts learns kata - Pinan, Heian, Gekisai, Sanchin, or some of the rest. From our first day in class, we are involved in one way or another with kata. Karate is based on kata. Karate, in fact,
is kata. Without kata, karate would not exist. 
As a comparison, there have been plenty of fighting arts over the history of the world, from the 300 Spartans who held off ten thousand Persian's at Thermopylae, to the Egyptian armies that chased Moses, to the Roman Gladiators. Warrior cultures define human history.
But there is no ancient fighting method as well preserved as that emanating from China, through Okinawa - the one we absorb through kata. Through kata we live a link to Shaolin priests 1500 years ago, to Ming warriors fighting off Manchurian invaders, to their descendants determined to place a Ming back on the throne of China, to Okinawan nobles organizing a society in face of Satsuma domination and protecting Okinawan kings.
They hide bits of Asian history, to relive through our kata passion. But what is kata? Does anyone really know? What is it supposed to accomplish? Where did it originate? Why does it even exist?
Click HERE to read the rest of the article To contact Robert Hunt
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Oct
Martial Art Humor
We all need a little humor in our life. If you have a joke, send it in.
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Oct
 Zen Stories
The Nature of Things
Two monks were washing their bowls in the river when they noticed a scorpion that was drowning. One monk immediately scooped it up and set it upon the bank. In the process he was stung.
He went back to washing his bowl and again the scorpion fell in. The monk saved the scorpion and was again stung. The other monk asked him, "Friend, why do you continue to save the scorpion when you know it's nature is to sting?"
"Because," the monk replied, "to save it is my nature."
We all need a little Zen in our Lives. If you have a story, please send it in. |
"The Seven Social Sins are:
Wealth without work.
Pleasure without conscience.
Knowledge without character.
Commerce without morality.
Science without humanity.
Worship without sacrifice.
Politics without principle.
From a sermon given by Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey, London on March 20, 1925
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WIKF Wado Ryu Karate Seminars with Sensei Wicks 
All courses are open to Wado practitioners (unless stated) and will include traditional Wado Techniques including- OHYO, KIHON GUMITE, TANTO & TACHI DORI, (KNIFE &SWORD DEFENCE) IDORI (KNEELING DEFENCE) AND KATA
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Sensei Wicks
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To view seminar schedule from September 2015 through January 2016
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Other Seminars and Events
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Ryukyu Martial Arts Friendship Gasshuku
October 16-18, 2015
Instructors:
Chuck Merriman, 10th dan, Hanshi, Goju-Ryu
Jiro Shiroma, 9th dan, Hanshi, Shorin-Ryu
Richard Poage, 5th dan, Renshi, Shorin-Ryu
Ryan Parker, Bunkai and Kiko Expert
Location
Peaceful Warrior Martial Arts & Healing Center
7830 E. Redfield, #11/12
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
For detail info click HERE
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2015 Japanese Karate Tournament Schedule 2015 USA
October
10/4 Shotokan Karate USA Fall Classic
Miladi Karate Academy
River Valley High School, 801 El Margarita, Yuba City, CA
www.miladigroup.com 10/4 50th Kubota Annual All-Star Karate Championship USA IKA Headquarters Occidental College, Rush Gym, 1600 Campus Rd, Los Angeles, CA (818) 541-1240 www.ikakarate.com
10/11 New York Open Cleve Baxter Westchester Community College, 75 Gra sslands Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595 (914) 665-2752 10/17-18 West Coast Open International Martial Arts Championships Chuck Sweigart Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Tacoma, info@westcoastopen.com WA 10/18 Hollen beck Invitational Karate Championship Enrique Mares CSULA, 5151 State University Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90032
10/24 21st Annual Rocky Mountain Gasshuku Grandy, Colorado Sensei Madani www.imakarate.com 10/24 North Fork Championships Rick McGavin Grand Junction, CO 970-527-5477 December 12/26-1/5 2016 The 13th Pan American Maccabi Games
Santiago, Chile
Dr. Sternberg skusajka@aol.com
Caren Lesser lesserc@bellsouth.net
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